About Nan

They who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;They shall mount up with wings like eagles;They shall run and not be weary;They shall walk and not faint.

Writers Encourage Writers

No one understands the trials and tribulations of a writing life except another writer. We need encouragement, praise, support, and mentors. But don’t wait for Encouragement to knock on your door. You have to court it. I’ll be introducing you to the people who will give you hope.

Because I received so little encouragement to write early in my life, I want to make sure you do. Studying the works and lives of great writers—past and present—can hearten and motivate us. It has for me, especially from J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis and others, as you will see.

How did two older English professors from Oxford and Cambridge—who wrote a half century ago and are no longer living—encourage me, and what can they offer you? The ways of encouragement from one generation to another don’t really change.

“As they [writers] work, they influence and are influenced by the company they keep.”

Served on the board of Panhandle Professional Writers for twelve years

Program chair, publicity chair, president

Director of Frontiers in Writing, our annual conference

1995 Senior Fellow at the National Journalism Center and intern for Human Events in Washington D.C

Nan in Palo Duro Canyon

I know where I’m going

I am a writer, journalist, and speaker living in Amarillo, Texas

I am a student of C.S. Lewis and J.R.R. Tolkien

I am a Regional Representative for the C.S. Lewis Foundation

I am writing a Narnia inspired novel

Do you know who you are, what you are, and where you’re going?

Nan’s Bio

I studied at the University of Colorado, UCLA, Amarillo College, and West Texas A&M. I retired from United Airlines when I moved to Amarillo, Texas in 1991, and became a professional writer and freelance journalist.

I have written for the Amarillo Globe-News, Canyon News, Amarillo Observer, Accent West, and Focus on the Family Magazine, Human Events, and Consumer Resource, with over 200 articles in print. I contributed to Daily Devotions for Writers.

I am the quintessential late bloomer. I married at 27, gave birth at 38, and went back to college and first published at 48. I was a Washington D.C. fellow at 50, and started speaking at 55. I completed my first nonfiction book, Smart Steps for Safe Travel at 59. A grandmother at 71.

NJC Interns Christmas Party 1995

My husband, Joe, is retired. We live with a cat. Our son lives in Dallas with his wife and their daughter.

Colophon

My website was designed and built by Author Media of Castle Media Group. I know the president, Thomas Umstattd Jr., personally as he has spoken at the C.S. Lewis Foundation Writers Workshops, as well as top Christian writers conferences around the country. I recommend their blog Author Tech Tips

Pictures I include are from my personal library. My professional photo and business card photo is by Gray’s Studios of Amarillo, Texas. Others taken in Palo Duro Canyon are by Kevin Briles Photography, also of Amarillo.

Many other shots of myself and other people at C.S. Lewis Foundation events were taken by my dear friend and colleague, professional photographer and writer, Lancia E. Smith. I also use photos from iStockPhoto

This is my personal blog. The opinions I express here are my own. Although I hold a position with the C.S. Lewis Foundation and link to our Writers Workshop and write on C.S. Lewis, I do not represent the foundation in this blog. The information I offer is from my own experience as a writer of twenty years. I include quotes from other people, living and dead, with proper attribution. I quote from books I’ve read and give total credit to the authors with links to their works and websites.

I make no representations as to accuracy, completeness, currentness, suitability, or validity of any information on this blog and will not be liable for any errors, omissions, or delays in this information or any losses, injuries, or damages from its use.